[WikiEN-l] Admin status: we are asking the wrong question

[Tony Wilson]

The question to be considered here is not whether a generally
reasonable, cooperative, and always hard-working contributor in 172
should be given admin status. The question is why a persistently
uncooperative, unreasonable and - let us face the facts here -
persistently and unrepentantly dishonest contributor should retain such
status.

It is a very simple matter: if a regular contributor in good standing
like Abe is *not* considered worthy of trust, then it is clearly absurd
to *maintain* that same trust in an admin who has repeatedly
demonstrated a gross lack of respect both for others here and for
balance in reporting. Anyone who has not made themselves familiar with
the history of this user should do so: there is an ample number of
examples. One need only read Fred's recent comments in this list, and
then comare them to his *actual edit record* in "Communist state" to
see very clearly that the standard he is asking Abe to live up to is
one that Abe generally maintains but Fred himself does not attain, nor
even (it seems) aspire to.

As a general rule, being trusted with admin responsibility makes people
*more* careful, *more* cooperative with others: it sets them on their
honour. Fred's recent behaviour is an exception to this, however we
should not let that conspicuous exception blind us to the general rule.